Poll: Should City Pay for Nationwide Search for New Fire Chief?

It’s unclear if the city will pay for a national search firm for the next Waukesha fire chief as the Police & Fire Commission replace retired Chief Allen LaConte.

The Finance Committee was split Tuesday night as they took up a request from the PFC to hire an search firm for $16,900. The request will move on to the Common Council.

The PFC, which is appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, has to approve all hiring and firing decisions in the police and fire departments.

The funds were proposed to be paid from the salary that the city is not paying LaConte since his departure.

Aldermen Eric Payne and Andy Reiland voted against hiring a national search firm, according to Finance Director Steve Neamann. Aldermen Joe Pieper and John Kalblinger voted in favor of funding a search firm. Alderman Paul Ybarra was out of town and was unable to make the meeting.

LaConte in March after working with the Waukesha Fire Department for more than three decades. He was hired to the position through a nationwide search.

Assistant Fire Chief Steve Howard until the PFC finds a new fire chief. The start date of a new fire chief was approved for June by the Common Council in the 2012 executive budget.